How long is too long?

*Robin*

Buddingblonde wrote: »

I live very rurally so there isnt much in the way of facilities unfortunately.

I have thought about taking my 3 with me but the family I will be staying with have cats too so that might be a no no (esp given the stress of a long car journey for my 3).
I would rather not have to cut my trip short as the drive is very very long and too much for me to do in 2 days and my visit is due to illness in the family not just a social visit.

I think that I may have to rethink the pet situation as I will need to make more and more trips to see the family and if the cats cant be left alone fpr a couple of days then I will have to get rid (which would break my heart as they are my babies) but if everyone thinks it is too cruel to leave them then it is just what I will have to do.

Hang on, OP - if your family is a very long drive from home then actually you probably have dozens of catteries available to you; I'd widen the search to say an hour's drive from home and up to ten miles or so off your route (or however long a journey your cats can tolerate). So you could take the cats with you and drop them off at your chosen cattery on the way to visit your family, and collect them on your way home. Ok so you may not be able to visit to inspect the place before the first stay, but if you tell us roughly your route it's more than likely someone here will be able to give you a recommendation.
As your journey is likely to be repeated it makes sense to find somewhere you trust for your cats to stay safely - and if you are delayed while you're away, you'll be certain they are safe and being well cared-for.

I would not leave my cats locked in for so long - there is always another solution.
HTH

zagfles

Buddingblonde wrote: »

I spoke the vets receptionist who in turn asked the vet if they were aware of anyone in the area who watched cats, I have also been through the phone book, yellow pages and even placed ads at work to see if anyone knew of anyone. I dont want to advertise to strangers as I dont want just anyone having access to the house (at least if it is someone through work then they would likely be known to me).

Could you not get someone to feed them outside? That's what we always do when we go away. If you get them used to it by feeding them outside at set times then get the "stranger" to feed them at the same time and they'll be there waiting... we've made ours a little den with straw where they can sleep although the rarely use it in the summer.

A neighbour might even be happy to do it on that basis, often people aren't comfortable going inside someone else's house but would be OK going round the back and opening a can of food.

rising_from_the_ashes

*Robin* wrote: »

Hang on, OP - if your family is a very long drive from home then actually you probably have dozens of catteries available to you; I'd widen the search to say an hour's drive from home and up to ten miles or so off your route (or however long a journey your cats can tolerate). So you could take the cats with you and drop them off at your chosen cattery on the way to visit your family, and collect them on your way home. Ok so you may not be able to visit to inspect the place before the first stay, but if you tell us roughly your route it's more than likely someone here will be able to give you a recommendation.
As your journey is likely to be repeated it makes sense to find somewhere you trust for your cats to stay safely - and if you are delayed while you're away, you'll be certain they are safe and being well cared-for.

I would not leave my cats locked in for so long - there is always another solution.
HTH

This is a brilliant suggestion!:D

The cattery I use is around 45 mins from me (usually the direction I'm going but wouldn't matter even if not).

My big cat isn't too bad in the car but my wee one is terrible ("unwell" at BOTH ends) but it's still work it for peace of mind.

If it's going to be a regular thing, I'm sure you'll be able to find someone to watch them.

*Robin*

rising_from_the_ashes wrote: »

My big cat isn't too bad in the car but my wee one is terrible ("unwell" at BOTH ends)

I find Feliway very helpful for keeping reluctant travellers calm

Beckyy

What part of Scotland are you in, OP?

mrtobs

*Robin* wrote: »

Hang on, OP - if your family is a very long drive from home then actually you probably have dozens of catteries available to you; I'd widen the search to say an hour's drive from home and up to ten miles or so off your route (or however long a journey your cats can tolerate). So you could take the cats with you and drop them off at your chosen cattery on the way to visit your family, and collect them on your way home. Ok so you may not be able to visit to inspect the place before the first stay, but if you tell us roughly your route it's more than likely someone here will be able to give you a recommendation.
As your journey is likely to be repeated it makes sense to find somewhere you trust for your cats to stay safely - and if you are delayed while you're away, you'll be certain they are safe and being well cared-for.

I would not leave my cats locked in for so long - there is always another solution.
HTH

That's a great idea! Have a look at the Feline Advisory Bureau website for some useful tips on what to look for in a cattery (they used to have a register of catteries, but unfortunately don't do this anymore). Well worth looking into - if you use one once & find that its good, it also makes it much easier the next time & the cats have a chance to get used to it too. Must be stressful having to do all this travelling due to illness in the family, but if you get a good cattery it's at least one thing that you don't have to worry about (you know they're being well cared for).
I would say it is too long to leave them - but if you're still not sure about it, why not ask at the vets or check with the RSPCA or Cats Protection? Good luck!

podperson

Whereabouts are you in Scotland OP? Have done some petsitting in the past and know a few people around as well so might be able to help if you're really stuck. Understand if you don't want strangers coming into your house but have definately been there with the being stuck due to leaving the cat. Mine gets really stressed around strangers and new places so won't put her in a cattery - 2 years ago me and OH went back to visit our families for Xmas and he had to come back on Xmas Eve as we had no one to watch her and couldn't leave her over the whole bank holidays.

digitalphase

*Robin* wrote: »

Hang on, OP - if your family is a very long drive from home then actually you probably have dozens of catteries available to you; I'd widen the search to say an hour's drive from home and up to ten miles or so off your route (or however long a journey your cats can tolerate). So you could take the cats with you and drop them off at your chosen cattery on the way to visit your family, and collect them on your way home. Ok so you may not be able to visit to inspect the place before the first stay, but if you tell us roughly your route it's more than likely someone here will be able to give you a recommendation.
As your journey is likely to be repeated it makes sense to find somewhere you trust for your cats to stay safely - and if you are delayed while you're away, you'll be certain they are safe and being well cared-for.

I would not leave my cats locked in for so long - there is always another solution.
HTH

Excellent suggestion!!